REVIEW: ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man,’ Issue #14

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Cody Ziglar, art by Federico Vicentini, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Cory Petit. This is part of the Gang War event. Miles Morales continues to try to protect Brooklyn from Hobgoblin, but the Cape Killers, Enforcers, and the return of the Prowler will serve as massive obstacles.

As a part of both the ongoing Miles Morales series and the Gang War crossover, Zilgar combines the duo superbly. Instead of having Miles on his own, fighting against Hobgoblin, the whole tie-in expands to include everyone within the book. From Agent Gao, Scorpion, and the rest of her team to the Daughters of the Dragon and Starling, everyone makes an appearance and is involved in the story. And yet, the pace is magnificent and filled with adrenaline. Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14 is a selection of fight scenes. The opening takes place immediately after the previous mission ends, with a conflict that only seeks to give the villains time to take control. But it also provides Miles with an opportunity to switch up his allies in the fight and refreshes the cast of the comic.

The second fight unleashes the biggest surprises of the issue, as the reintroduction of the Prowler complicates matters enormously. Both fight scenes have layers and progression, extending them and keeping them exciting. Even though Scorpion and Spider-Man have gone several rounds already in this run, each round brings something new to the party. It’s clear that other minor plot threads are happening around the fights, but they are all to supplement them and eventually feed back and deliver an unexpected final page.

So many characters are included in this issue, even more than in the last chapter. All of them mean something to the plot, affecting either the battles or the story. Around the frantic fighting, the dialogue is superb. The villains are menacing and nefarious, barely trusting each other but there to do a job. And Spider-Man and his new amazing friends aren’t any more trusting. He and Scorpion have developed a budding respect for one another, and their interactions are close to adorable. Prowler being Miles’ uncle adds another level of drama to the situation, but it doesn’t stop either man from getting some swings in. There are even more characters involved in both battles, making the comic a collection of carnage. And above it all, conducting the villains is Hobgoblin. Aside from giving the villains their task, he is yet to be involved in the frontlines of Gang War.

The art is utterly terrific. The energy that infuses the book when a character swoops into the scene is palpable, intensifying the comic. Those returning to the book look fantastic, as always. Scorpion’s hulking and imposing costume dwarves Miles, forcing the diminutive hero to move faster. That movement and eccentricity of the action is an iconic feature of Vicentini and the book as a whole. The blurred movement and unstable “camera angles” make the action as fluid and mobile as it may be possible to achieve through comic book art. It often leads to confusion as to what’s happening, but boy, does it make the book flow brilliantly. The punches have an impact that is felt. The reactions and facial expressions are dramatic and specific, and the damage is enormous. Those facial expressions can be pinpointed even if the character is tiny. Such is the remarkable ability of the artist.

The colors are just as glorious. Almost every character has some prominent and vibrant shade. Spider-Man is red and black, Scorpion is bright green, and Prowler is green and purple. These bright tones are vital as they give the reader something to latch onto amid the chaos. With swirling lines in almost every panel, at least the eyes can focus on the colors in the middle. The lettering is also calm and composed, necessary in such a bonkers book.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14 is the perfect example of a tie-in. The Gang War crossover has been incorporated into the book without breaking stride, carrying on with all the character development and plot points. Therefore, the event doesn’t destroy the flow of an ongoing series, which has always been a problem in huge, company-wide campaigns. This creative team has established a cast that can adapt to fit whatever situation may be thrown at them. And it has to be said that this combination of Ziglar, Vicentini, Valenza, and Petit is one of the most consistently brilliant that Marvel has on its roster. The book has been fantastic from the start and is brimming with personality and individuality, with an absolutely mind-blowing art style.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14 is available where comics are sold.